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Pritha Banerjee Chattopadhyay’s translation of Narayan Mukhopadhyay’s poem: -বাপের বাড়ি – Paternal House (Bangla to English)

Paternal House

Narayan Mukhopadhyay 



Before I knew it, two years have passed

Since my wife went to her parental home.

Her hairpin, vermilion box, comb,

Mirror, saree, and memories lie scattered.

Letters, paper, pen, and a bottle of alta remain.

The moon has set, causing her to sulk!

In this melancholic sulking she has cried and gone to her father’s home.

There, rivers after rivers,

Fields after fields, birds among birds,

And the nectar of rain.

A high school teacher, Pritha finds her deepest connection in poetry, where every line feels like a mirror to the soul. Though she loves to wade through the stories that novels offer, it’s poetry’s ability to turn the ordinary into magic that keeps her coming back to it in moments of happiness and sorrow alike. She dreams of travelling the world, weaving memories from the rich mosaic of cultures and cuisine. Her days are brightened by her students, whose curiosity and humour constantly remind her why she loves teaching. She’s been learning, since what seems like eternity, to understand movies beyond the surface. Tagore is her safe haven, a place where she finds calm amidst the chaos. Despite all the flaws she sees in humanity, Pritha chooses to believe in its goodness—a quiet hope that carries her through the world. That said, there are days when she can’t help but feel that dogs make far better companions than humans.

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